Washboard



pril 21, 1925.

L.sHEARs WASVHBOARD WITNESS; 4 A RNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1925 UNITED ,s'rerrzs BUT-HER 'SH'EARS, OF ARBOVA'IJE,/ EST WASHBOABID.

Application filed February 16, 1923. Serial No. 619,495.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER SHEARS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arbovale, in the county of Pocahontas and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Washboards, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has reference to a self-soaping washboard.

An object of the invention is to provide a washboard with a soap compartment at the top and to the rear of the rubbing surface thereof, to provide the rubbing surface with apertures that communicate with the soap compartment whereby saponaceous fluid from the compartment will'flow on to the rubbing surface, to provide valves for regulating or stopping the outflow of the fluid, and to provide the outer face of the soap compartment with an opening whereby water may be directed therein during the washing process, and to provide said opening with a valve whereby the same may be closed or partially opened in accordance with the amount of water to be delivered into the soap compartment.

I attain the foregoing and other objects which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, by a construction, combination and operative association of parts such as is disclosed by the drawing which accompanies and which forms part of this application.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation of a washboard in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view approximately on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of the washboard.

The frame of the washboard is of the usual wooden construction, and between the side members or legs 1, the bottom connecting element 2 for the legs and the wooden front board 3 between the legs there is arranged a corrugated rubbing plate 4. The plate is preferably constructed of glass and its outer face only is corrugated. Secured to the legs and projecting to the rear of the board there is a substantially rectangular soap compartment 5. The compartment has its upper open end normally closed by one or more sliding doors 6, and the front board 3 is centrally provided with a circular opening 7 regulated by a pivotally supported disk 8, in the nature of a valve.

The rubbing surface 4, at a point adjacent the bottom of the soap compartment 5 is provided with a pair of spaced apertures 9 and in the soap compartment 5 there is a pair of slidable valves 10 which regulate the openings, and consequently the flow of saponaceous fluid therethrough. The valves are provided with handles 11. The valves are slidable in guideways 10.

Sliced soap, or soap in liquid form, is arranged in the compartment 5. The valves 10 are first arranged to close the apertures 9, and a sufficient amount of water is let into the compartment 5 to dissolve the soap, or to thin the same when in semi-liquid form. The valve 8 is either open or partly open in the washing process, and the valves 10 are moved to uncover the apertures 9. The saponaceous fluid will flow to the rubbing surface 1 through the apertures 9, and

water will be delivered into the compart ment 5 through the opening 7 during such washing process, that is, upon the clothes being moved upwardly on the board. When sufficient water has entered the opening 7,

the pivoted valve 8 is closed, and when sufficient saponaceous fluid flows through the apertures or openings 9 the valves are moved to close the said apertures.

It is thought that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawing will fully set forth the construction and advantages of the improvement to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, but I desire it to be understood that I do not wish to be restricted to the precise structure herein set forth and hold myself entitled to such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of what I claim.

Having described claim A self-soaping washboard having a rubbing surface and a front board secured between its stiles above the rubbing surface, said front board having an opening therethrough, a pivoted disk on the front board having an aperture therethrough designed to register with the opening when the disk is turned to one position, a soap compartthe invention, I

ment arranged between the stiles of the washboard to the rear of the upper portion of the rubbing surface and to the rear of the front board, a slidable door disposed-over the front board and the soap compartment for closing the latter, blocks providing valves guided in the soap compartment, an

the latter are in their lowered positions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LUTHER SHEARS. 

